Sopranos High Note: 16 Emmy Nods

Home Box Office earned its strongest shot to date at
winning a "best dramatic series" Emmy Award last week when The Sopranos topped
all primetime shows with 16 nominations.

In addition to best series, the mob drama also earned
nominations for best actor (James Gandolfini), best supporting actress (Nancy Marchand)
and best actress (Edie Falco and Lorraine Bracco). Four of five writing nominations went
to different Sopranos episodes.

Overall, cable captured one-third of the 387 nominations
announced last week by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

HBO topped cable's list with 74 nominations, followed by
A&E Network with 20, Showtime with 11 and Turner Network Television with 10. Bravo,
Disney Channel and Nickelodeon each got two nominations.

TNT sneaked an initial airing of The Pirates of Silicon
Valley into the wee hours just before the nomination deadline date, ahead of its
advertised premiere. The strategy worked: The film qualified for this Emmy period and
garnered five nominations.

HBO's Sex in the City got two nominations in
powerhouse categories: best comedy series and best actress (Sarah Jessica Parker).

The nontelevised awards are scheduled for Aug. 28. The
primetime Emmy show will be held at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium Sept. 12 and
telecast on Fox.